MLB Rumors

Yankees outfielder Curtis Granderson had a feeling he'd start hitting soon. He was right. 

With manager Joe Girardi starting him in the leadoff spot of the order, Granderson immediately got things going with a single off Jason Hammel. He followed that with his first extra-base hit of the year, a double.

Granderson then really started to sizzle with a solo homer off Hammel in the fifth inning. He even walked in his last plate appearance. Granderson went 3 for 3 with a walk and a run scored with his first HR of the year. His average is now at .269 as he hopes to put his struggles behind him. 

Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez played a huge part in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Diamondbacks. He accounted for three of the team's four runs.

Gonzalez started the game off with a solo home run in the first inning, and added an RBI triple in the third. He then scored on a wild pitch to close out the scoring for the Rockies. He went 2 for 4 overall in the game, with a pair of RBI and a pair of runs scored.

Gonzalez is hitting .302 with a .977 on-base plus slugging percentage. 

Orioles catcher Matt Wieters doubled and homered Wednesday during a win over the Yankees at Camden Yards. Wieters' seventh HR came in the third inning for a three-run shot off Preston Claiborne. 

The switch-hitting catcher went 2 for 4 in the game with the three RBI. He's batting .230. Wieters has three homers over his last nine games with eight RBI over that span. He's up to 26 RBI on the year.  

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis had another big night at the plate Wednesday during a 6-3 win over the Yankees at Camden Yards. 

Davis homered for the 14th time this season to take over the American League lead. That came in the first inning for a two-run shot off Hiroki Kuroda. Davis finished going 4 for 4 in the game with two RBI and two runs scored. 

The perfect performance at the plate raises Davis' average to .329, which ranks him among the top 10 in the AL. His 43 RBI are second. He's also ninth in walks (24) and leading in slugging percentage (.690). 

Davis has homers in three of his last five games, has multiple hits in four of his last six and has 10 RBI over his last 10 contests. 

After throwing 34 pitches Tuesday, the Pirates did not have closer Jason Grilli available Wednesday against the Cubs. With a 2-1 lead heading into the ninth, the Pirates turned to a reliever who has been almost as dominant as Grilli this season, Mark Melancon.

Melancon, who entered the game with 16 holds, handled his first save situation well. He allowed the winning run to reach base with one out, but induced a pair of pop flies to second base to end the threat and the game.

Melancon allowed one hit and struck out one batter, who reached based on a wild pitch. He needed 22 pitches to finish the save.

Melancon now has an 0.72 ERA in 25 appearances, with 26 strikeouts and just one walk in 25 innings of work. 

Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis homered in the first inning off Hiroki Kuroda Wednesday versus the Yankees. It was Markakis' fourth HR of the season. 

The No. 3 hitter, who sometimes leads off, went 1 for 4 and is batting .292. Markakis has hit in nine of his last 10 games and has five multiple-hit games over that span with six RBI. He's up to 23 RBI and 26 runs scored on the season. 

Astros infielder Ronny Cedeno was scratched from the lineup Sunday with a sinus infection and hasn't played since. In fact, Cedeno hasn't seen an inning since May 13 at Detroit. 

He can continue to be considered day to day, but isn't a regular for the Astros, when healthy. He's batting .281 over 57 at-bats. 

Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee did not get much support Wednesday against the Marlins, but he did not need it, as he tossed his first complete game shutout of the season.

The game started out with Lee in a pretty rough spot, as he faced a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the second inning. Fortunately, he grabbed a quick double play and then a harmless pop fly to emerge from the inning unscathed.

Lee held the Marlins to just three hits in the game, while walking a pair of batters and striking out five.  He earned the win in a 3-0 final, while pushing his record to 5-2.

Lee will follow his gem up with a much tougher matchup, as he gets set to take on the Red Sox Tuesday in Boston.

Astros closer Jose Veras earned his eighth save Wednesday against the Royals. 

He had a 1-2-3 ninth to secure a 3-1 win. He threw 13 pitches and his ERA is 3.32. 

Veras has saves in four-straight appearances and hasn't allowed a hit or run in seven-consecutive outings. 

Royals starter James Shields, who frequently struggled to get run support with Tampa Bay, is possibly getting less help with Kansas City. Shields gave up two runs Wednesday in Houston on seven hits scattered over seven innings and 104 pitches. He didn't walk a batter and struck out seven.

But Shields (2-5) continued to receive little run support in the 3-1 loss. He has allowed two or fewer runs in five-straight outings but is 1-3 over that stretch. Shields, who has a 2.47 ERA, leads the American League in innings pitched and complete games.

His next start is Monday against the Cardinals in interleague action.